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Kansas City’s Best Known Secrets

March 29, 2013

My husband and I have lived in Kansas City for almost three years now, and nothing has made him happier than the barbeque options available throughout the city. When we first came here to visit and find a place to live, his only wish was to eat some barbeque. Since then he has become somewhat of a barbecue connoisseur. We have traveled all over Kansas City trying all the smoked perfection that it has to offer. Here are some of our favorites.

Our all-time favorite is Oklahoma Joe’s BBQ. Many may know of this as what we affectionately call "gas station barbeque." That’s simply because the original Oklahoma Joe’s was started in a gas station! It’s often so popular that we’ve waited over an hour before just to be served. However, they have opened a few other locations (Olathe and Leawood) that have shorter lines and much bigger dining rooms. As for food, the Z-Man is a classic favorite.

Fiorella’s Jack Stack is the fine dining of barbeque. With a large dining space and several locations throughout Kansas City, Jack Stack features a more varied menu for those who may not love barbeque as much as the rest of us. You can get chicken, salads, or Kansas City’s famous strip steak.

The easiest and perhaps best way to get barbeque is to prepare it yourself. Whether it’s in a crockpot, on the grill, or even building your own smoker, you can get what you want when you want it. The Library offers a lot of great books on how to prepare BBQ. A few good options are: